Bengaluru: Namma Metro users welcome platform screen doors

Bengaluru: Seeing that the ridership of Namma Metro is rising  with the footfalls in the city touching  four lakh in a single day now, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is keen on installing platform screen doors (PSDs) at the new Metro stations in its underground section for passenger safety.  

The idea is to prevent accidental falls, suicides and homicides at the  stations as the PSDs will act as a barrier between the platforms and the tracks. Installed in sync with the Metro coach doors, the PSDs will open only after the trains come to a halt at the stations. 

However, not sure why the PSDs are being installed only in the underground stations of the project’s Phase 2,  commuters say they should first be installed at the existing Metro stations. "We welcome the BMRCL’s decision,  but why is it not planning to install the screen doors at the existing stations?  Its explanation about cost doesn’t make sense as the Metro fares are high and with the increasing ridership, the corporation earns a  handsome revenue," says Anith HS, a lecture and a regular Metro commuter

Ask the BMRCL and its officers say it does have plans to eventually install the screen doors  at existing crowded stations like the Kempegowda (Majestic) too.  

“It will be difficult to install the platform screen doors immediately at these  stations when they are already in use and packed with passengers.

The concept of PSDs is only a beginning. While we hope to install them in 12 underground stations in Phase 2, they will eventually be extended to other stations too as the PSDs will be used to generate revenue through advertisements displayed on them,” they explained.